Episiode III Easter Eggs **SPOILERS**

[Captain Hawke]

Taken from starwars.com

THERE ARE SPOILERS DOWN BELOW!!!! TURN BACK NOW!!!!

You've been warned!!!!



Ships Aplenty

Fans know well what audiences around the world are discovering: you simply cannot take in all the detail of a Star Wars movie in one sitting. So intricate and meticulous is each shot that every image tells a rich story. In some cases, that story is kind of funny -- a cleverly placed nod to audience members who know where to look. For eagle eyed viewers, they're called Easter Eggs. Sometimes they're inside jokes. Other times, they're just interesting details that are very easy to overlook.

Here's a list of some of those little must-see moments that you may have missed. Consult this list the next time you go see Episode III and count how many you can spot.

Spoiler Warning: If you haven't seen Episode III yet, you may not want to read ahead.


[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
kitchen sink

During the space battle, when a blue laser beam lances out of the belly bay of a massive Republic Star Destroyer and splits a Banking Clan frigate in two, it unleashes a blossoming explosion with streaming debris. The camera pans along with one sizable chunk as it slams back into the Republic vessel. That is indeed a kitchen sink.


[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
"the Wilhelm."

An audio easter egg -- and hallowed tradition of Star Wars -- is the piercing scream affectionately called "the Wilhelm." It's a decades-old audio recording of a very distinctive scream that has become a "pet sound effect" to many sound editors, though Ben Burtt deserves special mention for surreptitiously spreading it through the movies he's worked on. It can be heard shouted by a clone trooper thrown by an exploding weapons emplacement during the opening space battle.


[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ] [ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
stay on target...

Subtly providing some nice connective tissue to the original trilogy are the designs of the starfighter targeting computers. The display screens in Anakin and Obi-Wan's Jedi fighters very closely resemble those on Darth Vader's TIE fighter, while the little icons lining the screens of the clone fighters look a lot like those found on the X-wings.


[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
destroyers and donuts

There's so much happening high above Coruscant that it's hard to single out one spectacle not to miss. There's a very intriguing tangle that has a triangular Republic destroyer caught within the arms of a massive ring-shaped Trade Federation battleship. It's hard to tell what's happening here: perhaps the Federation ship has somehow captured the Republic vessel in its clutches. According to the Animatics Department that plotted out the space battle, the Republic ship is docked with a captive donut ship, and teams of clone troopers are tearing through the corridors.


[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
the Falcon

It's tiny, but visible enough to send a warm fuzzy through the hearts of original trilogy fans. In the establishing shot of the expansive Senate docking bays, there's a tiny Millennium Falcon easing into frame. And it's not just a non-descript Corellian freighter; it's on good authority -- namely George Lucas -- that this is the infamous hunk-of-junk before it came into the ownership of either Lando Calrissian or Han Solo. Also peculiar about that shot: there are no less than three gleaming Naboo star skiffs parked on the lot. Does Padmé have spares?


[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
supporting Senators

Though it's been reported that the Senatorial plotlines of Episode III were all cut out of the film to keep the focus on Anakin's story, almost all of those supporting Senators are still in the film. The starwars.com databank recently added such Senators as Chi Eekway, Terr Taneel, Nee Alavar, Mon Mothma, Giddean Danu, Malé-Dee, Fang Zar, Meena Tills, and Fema Baab to its encyclopedic entries, and they are all on that platform. Watch for them.


[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
speaking of Jar Jar

Some press outlets have reported that Jar Jar doesn't utter a single word in this film, but he does. Listen closely as the Senators file in behind Palpatine and enter the building. The bungling Gungan accidentally invades Senator Orn Free Taa's personal space, provoking an exchange of "Watch it." "Excuse me."

Expanded universe fans may have had their ears perk up when Obi-Wan gives the single-sentence summary of the Jedi briefing Anakin just missed. He mentions that Master Vos has moved his troops to Boz Pity. That is indeed a reference to Quinlan Vos, who was almost slated to appear in Episode III. Lucas included the comic book Jedi in the script, though his sequence was never filmed.

[Captain Hawke]

Opera Cameos


[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
Opera House - Dannl Faytonni
[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
Opera House - Baron Papanoida

Who's who at the opera! There's many familiar faces to spot at the Galaxies Opera House, though given the exotic -- and sometimes immodestly dressed -- patrons seen milling about, it can be hard to spot them. As Anakin runs up the carpeted staircase, one of the guests he passes is Dannl Faytonni, the human character first played by an unmasked Anthony Daniels in Episode II. The man behind C-3PO gets to show his features once more, if ever so briefly, only this time he's wearing a captain's rank and a tall hat, suggesting he's moved up the social ladder.

Once inside, Anakin weaves through a bustling corridor. Blink, and you'll miss such returning aliens as Horox Ryyder (from Episode I), Greeata and Rystáll (from Episode VI) as well as the most notable cameo. Talking to Senator Chi Eekway is the blue-skinned Baron Papanoida -- cameo appearances for Katie Lucas and her father, writer-director George Lucas. His other daughter, Amanda Lucas, is also in this shot as Senator Terr Taneel.

In the next shot, as Anakin settles into Palpatine's viewing box, take a look at box adjacent to the Chancellor's. It is filled with notable names from Industrial Light & Magic. Seated from left to right (first row) are Visual Effects Producer Jill Brooks, Animation Supervisor Rob Coleman, Visual Effects Producer Janet Lewin, (and back row) Visual Effects Supervisor Roger Guyett, Visual Effects Producer Denise Ream, and Visual Effects Supervisor John Knoll. If you look at the shots that favor Palpatine during his wistful retelling of the Darth Plagueis yarn, you'll see Knoll sitting over his shoulder.


[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
Opera House - Janu Godalhi.

In the same establishing shot of the interior of the Opera House is another Easter Egg strolling down the aisles. Dressed in a long green robe is Hyperspace's Set Diarist and Star Wars Insider columnist Pablo Hidalgo as Janu Godalhi. You can read about how his cameo came to be and see pictures of the shoot in this exclusive Post Production report here.

If you wanted to split hairs about continuity, Coleman, Guyett, Ream, Brooks and Hidalgo are also in the far background of the preceding staircase shot, suggesting that they somehow beat a running Anakin to the inside of the theater.


[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
Kashyyyk - alien riders

In the establishing shot of Kashyyyk, the Wookiee aircraft are accompanied by giant dragonfly creatures like can-cells. If you look carefully, they have little alien riders: adventurous Aleenan aliens, the same species as the scrappy Podracer, Ratts Tyerell. Yeehaw!


[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
Kashyyyk - destroyer

It gives you an idea of scale if you somehow manage to miss an entire Star Destroyer, but it happens. When the establishing fly-into Kashyyyk ends, parked behind the trees is Yoda's Republic Star Destroyer.


[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
Kashyyyk - Luminara

Yoda's not the only Jedi on Kashyyyk. Organizing defenses on the beach is Luminara Unduli, only here she's not played by Mary Oyaya for her single shot. It's Art Department Supervisor Fay David. She had previously played a handmaiden in Episode I and Shaak Ti (in the library scenes) in Episode II.


[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
not Sing

Some fans think they spot Aurra Sing, the chalk-skinned bald-headed bounty hunter from Episode I, in the sculpted frieze hanging in Palpatine's office. It's not really, but the sculpture is worth taking a look at. It depicts an ancient battle between Jedi and dark side-corrupted creatures and aliens.


[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
"The Clontender"

There's a lot going on in the brief shot of the dragon pen before Boga comes bounding into frame. There's a little Utai alien luring a dactillion -- a pterodactyl like creature -- to roost with a piece of meat, and a gaunt Utapaun taking a dog-sized spider for a walk.


[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
fork-wielding Utapaun

In the background of the 10th Level, as Obi-Wan whistles for Boga to come and give chase to General Grievous, look in the background. A clone trooper has lost his rifle and is essentially boxing with a battle droid.

If you've seen the fork-wielding Utapaun action figure and were wondering just where it is in the film, you'll have to look quickly. This warrior can be seen riding on the back of a dactillion as the battle erupts on Utapau.

[Captain Hawke]

Episode III Easter Egg Hunt
May 26, 2005

Battleground Bits


[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
get me a medic

Who says clones are compassionless? During the Battle of Utapau, we can see one clone trooper leaning over a fallen comrade, calling for medical assistant. If the animation of the clones seems particularly realistic, ILM animators used motion capture data of real military maneuvers.


[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
upended AT-TE

Earlier in the film, we heard Obi-Wan Kenobi report that Saleucami had fallen. As a nice bit of consistency, before the mutinous clone troopers blast Stass Allie's speeder to smithereens, you can the legs of an upended AT-TE walker, evidence than extended fighting had finally finished. During the crash, you can see clone trooper bodies littering the ground.


[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
Captain Colton

Yes, that is Jeremy Bulloch in the role of Captain Colton. He's the pilot of the Tantive IV as the Alderaanian starship returns to Coruscant for a special session of the Senate.


[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
shot through the heart

One of those blink and you miss it shocker moments is Yoda's unorthodox use of a lightsaber to take out a clone at the Jedi Temple. The little Jedi Master locks his 'saber on, and throws it, plunging it deep into a clone's chest. He then scrabbles up the falling clone, plucking his weapon out of the dead soldier. As chronicled in the Making of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Lucas was a bit hesitant about including this move. The book reported the scene as cut out, but as amazed audiences who see it can testify, the kill stayed in the picture.


[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
slain Jedi

As Obi-Wan watches the hologram recording, he sees Anakin slay three Jedi. The boy who has his back to the camera is Whie, played by Coinneach Alexander. The girl is Bene, who Anakin strangles. She is played by Mousy McCallum. The adult Jedi Master who puts up a fight is Cin Drallig, played by Stunt Coordinator and Swordmaster, Nick Gillard.

What you didn't see:
Fans who meticulously studied the release trailer may have noticed two shots nowhere to be found in the finished film. One is of a determined hooded Anakin marching down the Trade Federation cruiser hallway, and the other is of Ki-Adi-Mundi reluctantly turning to face some unseen fate while in the Jedi gunship hangar.


[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
[ Episode III Easter Egg Hunt ]
trailer shots

These shots were never intended for the final film but were needed to help fill out the story told in the trailer. The Anakin shot had been cut -- it was from the Jedi Temple attack. If you look at the animatics version of the shot (Hyperspace members, click here to see it), you can get an idea of what the shot was originally meant to represent. The footage was deemed trailer appropriate, so ILM composited the greenscreen footage of Anakin against a background plate of the cruiser hallway.

Though Ki-Adi-Mundi's shot was used in the finished film, by the time of the trailer, the background Mygeeto environment hadn't been completed. So, the Jedi Temple hangar was substituted instead.

This of course is only just a handful of things to spot. It is by no means an exhaustive list. Keep watching Episode III and chronicling your discussion on the Official Message Boards, or if you're a Hyperspace member, in your Star Wars Blog.

[Brie]

Thanks for the info! Gives me an excuse to go see the movie again...

[Col. Charybdis]

That's just what I was thinking!!!!

[Brie]

Since we might be going tomorrow for the *mumble*th time, anybody know exactly where to look for Mon Mothma? I missed her last time. Even though her part is small in Jedi I think that she's a great female character. It's nice to know that Leia wasn't the only woman working for the rebellion!

[Captain Hawke]

According to the ROTS book, unfortunately Mon Mothma is included in the senatorial scenes that were cut from the movie version. She may be in the background at the opera, or outside the senatorial chambers... Look when Anakin & Obi-Wan comes home to Coruscant and they are met by a senatorial delagation, I think she may be in that delagation.

Maybe she'll appear more in the DVD deleted scenes?

[Brie]

I know she's supposed to be in the background somewhere, I just haven't found where yet. And she's still in the credits. I wasn't looking for her in the scene when Anakin and Obi-Wan return to Coruscant, so she's probably there. I'll keep looking.

[Col. Charybdis]

I have been looking for Shaak Ti. She was in the visual dictionary but I found no credits and could not find her either in the movie... anyone know?

[Captain Hawke]

According to the book, Shaak Ti was still in the Jedi Temple before Anakin made his way to Paplatine's office to make his final turn, he leaves Shaak Ti in the meditation room. Then it is assumed after the final turn he executes her when he returns to the temple to do the final executions.